Metal-sheet-separating machine.



W. R. KINNEAR. METAL SHEET sEPAEATmE MAoEmE.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1910- 1,1 30,983. Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS- SHEET ly W. R. KINNEAR. METAL SHEET SEPAEATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22.1910

Patented Mar. 9, 1915 1:130983 4 SHEETS-SEEE 2 W. R. KINNEAR. METAL SHEET SEPAEATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 22, 1910- k 1,1 30,983. Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

u 4 SHEETS-'SHEET 3 www Q :INM

ff/MMM. E mi ,@Z

W. R. K1`NNEAR. y METAL SHEET SEPARATING MACHINE.'

APPLIoATloN FILED smzz, 1910. 1,1 30,983. Patented Mang, 1915.

l 4 sums-SMM 4,

Q C) C) S PATENT FFQE,

WILLIAM R. KINNEAR, 'OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

METL-SHEET-SEPRATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Fetent.

resented nar. e, reis.

Application led September 22, 1910. Serial No. 583,300.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it knowp that l'., WILLIaM R. KINNEAn, a citizen ofthe United States, and whose residence and post-office address is New Qastle, in the county of Lawrence, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new lmprovements in llletal-Sheet-Separating Machines, of which the following is-a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for automatically. separating sheets of `'metal which have beenv caused to adhere by some stepor steps in the process of their manufacture, as for instance, .by the annealing processv Sucha machine is described and broadly claimed in my previous application, Serial #518196. iiled September 17th, 1909, according to which the group or pack of adhering sheets is introduced into the machine and subjected to the lifting action of a sucker or suckers at a point or points where adhesion has not taken place or has been preliminarily destroyed, afterwhich a knife or knives are caused to enter beneath 'the lifted vportion of the sheet and, while supported with some freedom of accommodating itself to the plane of separation, is

forced between the first and second adhering sheets in a manner to force separation;v

the front edge of the knife being beveled and extending at an incline to the direction of the knifes movement, so that it acts as a shearing wedge in enforcing separation, and the sheet being suitably withdrawn from the machine when separationl is complete.

rlhe object of the present invention is to add to a machine of the kind above described, certain elements or .devices which coperate with the generaly features referred to in a manner to make the operation more complete and more uniformly successful even under thegreatest difficulties encountered in practice; also to embody the general principles and broadv features of the previouslvfiled application in a machine of simplified construction.

'To the last named end, one feature of the present invention consists in ernplcyinfy but a single knife for the separation o the sheets; this knife being divided from front to rear into a pair orblades so that while adapted to simultaneously enter beneath separately raised corners and separate opposite ends of one and the same sheet, should two sheets be lifted at one end and but a single sheet at the other end, the second depressed by sutliciently to release the topmost sheetabut against the edge of the ment to sheet-which is, partially above one blade of the knife and partially below the other blade will not be destroyed as would be the case if but vone continuous blade were employed, but the two partially separated sheets will merely remain in position until the knife again withdraws and the operation is repeated and both blades finally enter beneath the top sheet alone to completely separate it and permit it to be withdrawn from the machine.

v further feature consists in providing means whereby sheets that may become prematurely severed are prevented from leaving the pile except as they are individually separated and released by the knife, such means preferably comprising a stop or stops, normally in the path of the sheets, but each stroke of the knife just above the knife, those below. V A further feature consists 1n means whereby, after separation bythe knife is commenced, the starting edge of the sheet will be gripped and the sheet thereby firmly held against buckling or folding under the friction of the knife during separation; said means preferably comprising gripping jaws thrown in at the proper-time, and means such as suction lifts, (which may receive their liftin tendency simultaneouslywith the initial evices, but through resilient connections) which suction' lifts will raise lthe intermediate portion of the sheet, Within reach of the gripper.

Another feature consists in an automatically actuated gripping device which enters upon and holds the pile of sheets beneath the one being separated, immediately after the separating operation has commenced.

A .further feature consists in providing means whereby the separating knife, after completingthe separation of the sheet, will sheet and move direction of delivery until it is by discharging means, such as a eed rolls or the like, the means on for embodying .this delivery-movethe sheet being in the form of a yielding .pusher which aords ample resistance to move a detached sheet,'butwil1 itself yield'to the abnormal resistance of a sheet that Vstill adheres, so as `to avoid injury either to the sheet'o'r to the machine.

- Avurther feature consists in providing a while barring the escape of it in'the picked u pairof the knife supporting bed for the pile of sheets, (preferably embodied in a truck by which the pile may be conveyed to and positioned in the machine) with justifying means which enforce lateral and angular shifting of the pile, as the pile diminishes, by the removal of sheets. in case the pile, as a whole, is distorted. That is to say the pile may constantly yield to lateral clamps,'as the ile lowers to keep the top portion therco in normal position, or adjusted in relation to the devices (lifter, grippers, stops, knife, and delivery means) which act upon particular portions of the sheet; such shifting being facilitated by mounting the upper part of the bed upon the lower part through the medium of ball bearings or the like. Manually operated Ashifting means are providedfor moving the bed 1n one lateral directiol; movement of the truck upon its wheels affords shifting in the other lateral direction, and rotation of the bed affords angular adjustment.

Further features of the present invention relate to details of construction of the several parts. which together with the broad featuresabove outlined will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

lin the accompanying drawings; Figure l is a plan view of a complete machine ein-- bodying the several features of my present invention in allustrative form.. Fi 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the l1ne 2-2, Fig. l, with the lower part of the machine left out. Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views at right angles to each other of the means for holding down the remaining sheets in the pack after separation of the top sheet has commenced. Figs. G and 7 are views at right angles to each other of the means for holding the front edge of the top sheet after separation has commenced Fig.V 8 is a de tail `view of one of the sto s which normally projects above the rear ges of the sheets, to prevent them sliding forward under the friction of the knife, but which are depressed by the knife when separation is complete, in order to permit the separated sheet alone, being delivered to the discharge means. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the stop shown in Fig. 8. Fig. l0 is a view or Vone of the suckers. Figs. l1 to ld did'erent views of the supporting truck.

Il represents the frame of the machine, which is formed on its inner vertical face with guide tracks to receive the knife `carrier 2 which may be constructed in the form tally in the oi a 'U- shape rim, adapted to slide `horizonframe.

1,3 represents the two-part or divided knife which is mounted in the rim. 2 and which is adapted to be reciprocated through means oi the arms e, the ,pitman 5 and the cranks 6 'the knife to avoid incense which latter are mounted upon stub shafts 7 l extending from the main shaft 7, which is rotated b means of motor driven gear wheels 7" 7.

The knife is divided as at 8, b space, to receive a sheet one en a central of which may have been lifted above one blade or end of the knife while its other end remains beneath the other blade or end of the knife. This space 8 however is not so wide in proportion to the thickness, ofthe knives as would permit the intermediate portion of the top sheet continuin next sheet below while t eends thereto are separated; that is to say, the blades of the divided knife effect the separation by wedge action of the forward edges'thereof, while to adhere to the the sheet being separated is forced to remam in a plane parallel with and close upon the knife, so that with a given thickness of the knife and some stiffness of the sheet ample space can be left between the two blades of shearing a sheet which is below one blade and above the other, and still bring the intermediate partof the sheet under the separating influence of the blades or knife members when both ends of the sheet are above the same.

ln my previous application Serial No. 518,196 claiming a machine of this type as well as in my application Serial No. 563,211 filed May 24a, 1910 and claiming the process carried out by said machine, reference is made to the serration, inclination or indentation. of the forward edge or edges olf the knife or knives for purpose briefly stated,

of developing shearing wedging action and prevent buckling or folding of the sheets; the inclined wedging edge, while extending forwardly and outwardly, being terminated near either on the side oi' the sheet andthe remaining forward portion of the knife being formed of a inclined edge. Tinstead of two' opposed lmives, each having the main inclined edge extending entirely across the knife as in the previous application, each blade in the present ease has a main inclined edge 9 err-- tending rearwardly and inwardly to the intermediate separation of the blades together with a short rearwardly' and outwardly eX- tending edge 1G. This form oi imite ern-- bodies the advantages described in the previous applications referred. to, together with still further advantages consisting in the dishing or curving of` the sheet between the two advance corners of the blades, naturally stiens the sheet longitudinally of the machine and therefore maires the buckling or olding of the sheet less liable te occur. 1 v

ll represents the suction lifts for the cor` ners of the sheets substantially as described in the process plication which are raised.' by means ci? e arms l2 tulcrumed in rearwardly and outwardly llii rear of the main shaft 7 suitable intervals by while 13 represents which depresses the edges outside of said lifts for the urpose of preventingmore than one sheet being raised at a time,` as also described in my previous application.

In the more diicult class of work to be performed by a machine of this kind, especially where sheets have been over heated in annealing, adhesion has become much and acted upon at cams on said shaft,

stronger and foldingior buckling of the i Asheets is more likel to occur. As a safeguard a ainst this, now employ an addi- 15 tional li or lifters 14, acting upon intermediate'- portions ofthe front edge of the 'top sheet, in such a manner that as'soon as separation is suiciently advanced the front edge will be raised against upper jaw`15- so thatthe'gnlpping jaw 16,v ivoted-at 17, may be force in beneath t e sheet and .caused to formally grip it, by means of the pitman' 18 working in the cam 19 on the main shaft T (see particularlyl Figs. 6 and 7 Cam 19A is merely suggestive cfa-suit-v able mechanical `,device for imparting movement to the ripping jaw 16, and is constructed sol at the gripping movement takes place eachv time the knife 3 advances suciently beneath the top sheet to insure, separation of the front edge of said sheet. The lifter-s 14 may be conveniently raised and lowered through the medium of the beam which is sup orted from the lifting arms 12 of the li s 11. But in order that the suction of the lifts 11 may not be destroyed by upward pull before the points formed by the edges 9 and 10 of the knife have had time to enter beneath the front portionof the sheet raised by the lifts 11, the lifts 14 are raised by thev beam 2O through the medium of the l fined between the beam an shoulder 22 on the air pipe 23 of each lift. This permits the lifts 14 to yield to the resistance offered by the sheet upon which their flexible suction ends 14l are pressed, until the knife has separated a `sufficient; portion of the sheet, after which the oom ression stored in the springs 21 will be su cient to lift-the frontedge of the sheet where attacked by the lifts 14, end permit the gripping jaw 16 to enter.- The front edge of the sheet will therefor during the raising procedureY take the shape of two waves, the crests of which start beneath lifts 14 and move in an inward direction until joining on the center line of the machine. Inasmuch as the entry of the gripping jaw is timed by the same knives 3, separation of the sheet and consequent lifting of the edge will necessarily take place in time to admit the gripper.

In order to positively press the suckers 14* upon the sheet which it is to lift, pipe.

with an over-hangingtlip 28, is moved by an remain upright, as shown rings `21 conshaft 7 which controls the movement of the pi 24 confined be- 23 igen-founded by an the head of the tween the e beam 20 the holddown device sncker 14* and in order to limit the upward movement of the sucker 14, its head 1s con` fined beneath the limiting stops 25 on the 70 lower bearing of the head.

- In order to grip,the remaining sheets of the pack until separation of the top sheet is com leted, jaw 26, mounted to slide in down. war y inclined bracket 27, and provided 75 arm 29 on a rock sha 30, forward integri ping position, each time the top sheet is liged and separation is started.

To start the delivery of the sheet from the' s0 machine as'soon as separation is complete, the knife carrier 2 is provided with a yielding pusher 31 mounted on a lifting incline 32 -which bringsthe edge of the. sheet `into the `path'of the pusher; said pusher beingfi sustained by the compression spring-33 'with i Suiiicient pressure to start 'the delivery of a. completely se arated sheet, but being permitted by sai spring to yield under the resistance of an adhering or partially sepaf rated sheet until the knife reverses its movement. This means, that the upper part of the pusher 31 will yield if two sheets happen.

to be'pushing against it at the same time, while on the other hand, the usher wouldA @t in 2 if only one sheet is pushing againstl it a er having' been raised bythe wedges or inclines 32. The s ring resistance should con uently be slig tly above that Caused by the rictioi i The from the weight of a single loose sheet.`

or partially separesistance of an adherin rated second sheet woulcf of course be many times, probably hundreds of times eater, so that the sprlng adjustment would `e quiteV lot. eas and could have very wide range.` I

Ih order to plrevent the top sheets or several adhering s eets, separated from the rest of the pile, moving forward in advance of` the knifestops 34 are provided at suitableI no intervals just beyond the far e of sheets, at the deliver end of the machlne. vAs will be seen from 'gs'. 8 and`,9, these stops coluprise an arresting face 35 against which the sheets abut and laterally. presented bevel --115 face 36 in position to be-encountered b the inclined forward adige 9 ofthe blade, were'- by the stop will be epressed when the knifev reaches it and when separation is necessarily complete and the stop being returnedby spring 37 wheny the lgnife is withdrawn, so that it again bars' the escape of the sheets. ,To complete deliv-A eryof t e sheets, any suitable means, asfor` instance a air of rolls 3S, may be provided*-125 where the eet will beforced between them, during'the last art of the forward movement ofthe 1mi e,'through the medium of the yielding pusher 31.

Beyond the jaw 15 and carr said jaw 130 thel sheet freed for delivery $130.1

is a presser har 39 which rests upon the top of the pile until. the knife begins to enter, and thereat presses the top sheet down upon the knife in a manner to greatly' assistl in holding the sheet against buckling or fold ing. Above the center of the sheet is a presser foot 40 which rests upon the pile and supports the machine when the knife is withdrawn and While the side clamps are released to limit the downward movement of the machine the thickness of one sheet. Ace tuated by suitable connections from the main shaft 7 such as cams or eccentrics, the holding down device 13, the presser bars 39 and the presser foot #l0 are all timed to he lifted sulliciently to allow the knife to pass ander the top sheet. this lifting taking place on the advance of the knife and subsequent to the clamping of the pile in the frame l, and the clamping oi the frame to posts 5G as described hereafter. In order to adjust the top of the pile relatively to the lifting sucker, the grippers, the knife, and the stops, the bed of the machine not shown in the assembled views comprises a lower supporting plate 4l, and an upper plate 42 resting there on through the medium of an intermediate plate 4l carrying the balls l2 or other antifriction means. This permits the plate upon which the pile rests to move both laterally and rotatively or angularly. A pivot pin 4l is provided on the base, which pin fits within the bearing 4l in the top plate 42. The bed plate 4l is preferably mounted upon wheels thus forming a truck, which Wheels 41 may run upon a track so that the truck 'may be removed from the machine and rolled to a distant point to receive the pile, and then returned to introduce the pile Within the ma chine. The wheels thus permit accurate positioning or lateral adjustment of the pile of sheets in the machine. To permit adjustment of the pile in another direction, the lower plate il carries a post 43 that projects upward through a slot 4l in the upper plate and is threaded to receive arradjusting scren1 45, whose outer end is squared for the reception of a key While its inner end is rotatahlj.v lined in the lower plate. Adjusting means 43. 44, 45, is so applied that it doesl not restrict automatic angular or rotarj,r movement of the ripper hed plate. With the described method of supporting bed` each time the side clamps 46 are pressed against the upper portion of the pile, by the toggle levers 47, which at one end are held hv stationarj.v lugs on the frame the machine is clamped to the pile by means of said clamps 46 and the'sustaining bar Li8 on the opposite side of the pile. B v this clamping, the pile adjusts itself to bring its upper portion in normal position relatively to the working parts of the machine.

The present machine is preferably sup ported by two pairsof pests 49 and 59, as

messes s in my previously tiled. application referred to which are threaded to enable the frame l to be raised when a new pile of plates is pnt inuand the pitch oli the threads of these posts, which receive the nuts on the trame of the machine, is such that the machine will settle bjr gravity until arrested by the presser bars 39 and presser foot 4G, each time the clamps are .releasedl It will therefore be evident that the frame l will be alternately suspended on the posts 50 and on the presser hars and presser foot 4C?.

'lo permit arresting of the machine Without undue pressure of `the clamps which might otherwise upset the edges of the sheet, l have prorided a brake-beam 5l, carrying shoes 52 bearing against the posts 50. Said bralreloeam is connected by draw-rods 53 with such parts of the toggles 47 as will cause the brake shoes 52 to be applied to the posts and thus arrestthe downward tendency of the machine, each time the clamps are applied to adjust the pile, and previous to raising the presser foot 40 to admit the knife. Reds 53 impart their pull to the brake beam 51 through the medium of springs 54, the tension of which may he adjusted at will by the nuts-55.

The toggle levers are actuated by inclined grooves, or cams 2b, see Fig. 2, situated in the sides of the knife carrier 2, which advance with the knife, thus straightening out the toggle, pressing the cla-mp 4:6 against the pile and clamps 52 against the posts 50.

l claim Y l. ln a machine for separati g adhering sheets of metal, a separating slide compris ing two blades having a spacebetween them,

the edge of each blade being broken to form v a forwardly protruding point.

2. In a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separating slide compris ing two blades, having a space between them extending in the direction of the separation movement, the, edge of each blade being broken to form a. forwardly protruding point..

3. ln a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separating slide comprising two blades having a space between them extending longitudinally to the separation movement, along the middle line oit the slide, the edge of each blade being broken to form a forwardly protruding point.

4. In a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separatingslide compris-- ing two similar blades symmetrically disposed and spaced apart on opposite sides of the middle longitudinal line of the slide, the

edge of each bladebeng broken to form a forwardly protruding point.

5. In a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separating slide comprising two similar blades posed and spaced apart on opposite sides of symmetrically disi corners of a sheet that are adjacent to said 1.13am- :u

the middle longitudinal line of' ai@ slide and.

having receding forward edges, the edge of each blade being broken to form a forwardly protruding point.

In a machine for separatin adhering sheets of metal, a separating sli e comprising two similar blades symmetrically' disposed and spaced apart on optposite sides, of the middle longitgdinal line o the slide, and having forward edges inclined rearwardly and inwardly toward the middle line of separation, the edge of each blade being broken to form a forwardly protruding.

point. p

7. In a machine. for separating adhering sheets of metal, a knife com rising two similar blades vsymmetrically disposed and spaced apart on opposite sides of the middlel longitudinal line of the knife and havingV forward edges inclined rearwardly and in@ wardl toward the middle line of separation from rw'ard points located within the sides" of the knife and also from said forward points, toward the sides of the l'mif, said forward edges being beveled on their upper side to form wedges. i

8. In amachin'e foi-'separating .adhering sheets of metal, a knife com rising twoV similar blades symmetrically di's osed. and` spaced apart on'opposite sides of t e middle longitudinal line of the knife and having forward edges inclined rearwardly and inwardly toward the middle line of separation from forward oints located near but within the sides of t e knife and also from.said.

forward points, toward the sides of the knife, saidforward edges beingbeveIed-on their upper side to form wedges. .l

9. In a inachincfor separatin adhering sheets ofmetal, a reciprocating rising two `similar blades vsyniiiietr-ically 'sposed and spaceda art on opposite sidesv of the middle and ha forward edges inclined 'rearwardly an inwardly toward the middle linev of separation from forward points located 1168.1

sides of the knife, said forward edges being beveled on their upper 'side to forin w es and means for simultaneously raising e forward points to admit such blades beneath it on the forward movement of said knife.

10. In a machine for separating adhering metal sheetsia separating knife, means for forcingit beneathl the sheet to be separated and means carried by the knife, engaging the edge of the sheet. after separation is coml lete and impartin movement to the sheet in the direction of elivery.

11. In a machine for separating adhering metal sheets, a Separating knife, means for forcing it beneath the sheet to be separated, and a yielding pusher carried by the knife,

- after encompassingr ongitu inal line of the knife i ut within 'the sidesA of the knife and also from said forward point, toward the'v engaging the edge of the sheet aftersepa-Y ration is complete and iiiipa to the sheet in the directionY oft elivery but yielding under abnormal resistance o the and-'adaptedito enter beneath the raised 'corners,:means tforcing the knife beneath the sheet anda yielding pusher carried bythe llliein' the lane .o separation between the sheets of metal, aseparating knife, means movement i elivery, but

13. 1n a machine for 'p'aratingad er-f..-

14. In a machine ,forseparating adhering Y for' initially raising a portion o f the sheet to l admit the knife, and additional sheet' raismgmeans acting uppn a.I portion ofthe sheet g adhering separated by the knife.- 15. In afmachine'for separatin sheets ofiiietah-aseparating knife, means for initially raising a -portion of the sheetf foradmitting the kni ,additional sheet raising means acting upon' a portion of' the sheet separated by the knife, and grippers i gipping the lastnamed raised portion of t es eet. v .Y

16. In a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separatin knife 'means for initially sellirlating a portion of tlie sheet to adin'it the 'fe, eneath it and means grippingand holding the edge of the sheet uringleparation.

. 17. a machine for separatin sheets of metal, a separating knife, means `fer initial] separating a portion of the sheet to a it-the knife beneath it, and' means dgripping and holding the'edgeof-the sheet uring separation, comprisin lifting means acting upon a portion of t e sheetl separated by the knife and a grippingdevice engaging the portion so raised. v

' 18. In a machine forseparating adhering sheets of metal, a separating knife, means izo for initiallnseparating a portion ,ofi thev sheet to a 't' the f knife beneath' it, and

means gripping and holding the edge' of the' sheet during separation, which consists of aA fixed jaw, means for raising the edge ofthe v sheet against said xed'jaw, .and a movable jaw moving beneath and against'the sheet to grip it against the fixed jaw.

' 19. In a machine for separating adhering operation of the sheets of metal, a separating knife, ine-ans gripping and holding the edge of the sheet, where separation commences, during the separating operation of the knife, and means confining the sheet immediately' above the separating knife. 20. In a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separating knife, hol down plates for pressing the sheet against the knife, and means for gripping the edge of the sheet at which separation commences, comprising an extension of a hold-down plate, and a gripping jaw entering beneath the sheet and gripping it against the extension of the hold-down plate.

2l. In a machine for separating adhering sheets of metal, a separating knife, holddown bar adopted to rest upon the top of the pile of sheets, means for raising the hold-down bar to permit the knife to pass beneath the uppermost sheet, and means carried by the hold-down bar for gripping the edge of the sheet where separation begins, and holding the same during the separating knife.

22. In a machine for separating metal sheets, a separating knife, means for raising a portion of the sheet to admit the sepa rating knife, means for raising an intermediste portion of the sheet, and an actuating connection for both said raising means.

23. In a machine for separating sheets of metal, a separating knife, suction means for raising a corner of the sheet to admit the knife beneath it, a suction. means for raising an intermediate portion of the sheet, an elevating connection for lifting the suction means first named, and an elastic connection between said elevating connections second named suction means.

24. In a machine for separating metal sheets, hold-down bars adapted to press upon the uppermost sheet, grippeis, for the edge of the sheet, carried by the hold-down bars, suction lifts to raise the edge of the sheet, also carried by said hold-down bars.

25. In a machine for separating metal sheets, hold-down bars, adapted to press upon the uppermost sheet. grippers for the edge of the sheet, carried by the hold-down bars, suction lifts to raise the edge of the sheet, also carried by said hold-down bars, including limiting means for restricting the upward movement of the lifts.

26. In a machine forV separating metal sheets, a separating knife, suction means and grippin members for initially raising a portion o. the sheet to admit the knife, and a sliding hold-down entering beneath the knife and gripping the pile of sheets beneath the miife as separation takes place.

Aa hold-down entering 27. In a machine for separating metal sheet to admit the knife and beneath the knife and gripping the pile of sheets beneath the knife as separation takes place, comprising `inwardly and outwardly sliding jaws and inclined guides for said jaws. p

irl. In a machine for separating metal sheets, posts upon which the machine is guided. and brake shoes adapted to press a portion of the against said posts to arrest the downward moi ement of the machine before separation takes place.

2S). In a machine for separating metal` sheets, posts upon which said machine is guided, a presser foot adapted to rest upon the pile of sheets to limit the downward movement of the machineaiid clamps adapted to embrace the pile of sheets in order to adjust the pile be ore each separation and brake slices carried by the machine, adapted to press against the posts to arrest the down ward movement; said brake slices having connection with the clamps whereby the brakes are applied by the movement of the clamps.

30. In a sheet separating machine, clamps adapted to embrace the pile of sheets at each separating stroke and adapted to adjust Ithe pile relatively to the devices which operate thereon.

31. In a sheet separatin machine a bed' for .supporting a pile of s eets to be separated comprising a lower bed plate and an upper bed plate angularl movable thereon whereby the bed has free om of vadjustment and clamps adapted to embrace the pile of sheets at each separating stroke and adapted to adjust the pile relatively to the device which operate thereon.

In a sheet separatin machine a bed for supporting a pile of s eets to be sepa rated comprising a lower bed plate and an upper bed plate angularly movable thereon whereby the bed has freedom of adjustinent and clamps adapted to embrace the pile of sheets at each separating stroke and adapted to adjust the pile relatively to the device which operate thereon; said; bed having positive means for laterally adjusting the upper bed-plate on the lower one.

The foregoing specification signed at New York, N. Y., his 27th day of June, 19110.

RAYMoNn H. TRUMAN, M. L. SULLIVAN. 

